The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

I will admit that I have not seen a full episode of "SpongeBob SquarePants" but I am aware of its popularity. A newly discovered species of mushroom is actually named after SpongeBob. The theme song is part of the show's appeal as is the type of humor. Both adults and kids get something out of the show and the same is the case with "Sponge Out of Water". I didn't even know this was a stand-alone sequel. It shows how much I know about the TV show. What got me to see this movie in theaters was that I could see it for free and the preview was funny. Some say that this movie will appeal to only fans and I wanted to put that to the test. The movie does have its moments for people new to SpongeBob.

The beginning of the show actually provides some exposition for those in the audience like me who are quite unfamiliar with the TV show premise. Another part of the trailer that caught my attention was the CGI in the live action scenes. The computer-animated versions of these characters blend very well with the real life environments due to the design and color scheme of the live action. You have a lot of bright colors and sunshine during the second half of the film. I also was attracted by use of the 3D in the trailer. The conversion of the 2D animation to 3D for the whole film was very well done. SpongeBob's nose for example always sticks out from the rest of his body. I was worried that the best gags in the film were all used in the trailer but this wasn't the case for this film. The movie had some great references and the jokes that may be silly and immature but that is what I expected. I liked the condiment war at the start for example. Because the first part of "Sponge Out of Water" is traditionally animated and the second part is live action with CGI, this show feels like two long TV episodes put together. The story of the film also feels divided on the same line because in the first half, SpongeBob and Plankton form a "te-am" and create a time machine to save Bikini Bottom where as the second half of the movie in the real world has our characters go up against Burger-Beard. The filmmakers should have extended the length of one of those stories/realities to create a better narrative. Live action sequence may look well done but the gags and action are not as entertaining as the stuff we saw in the first half. That makes sense because those making this film are used to the comic possibilities of traditional animation.

Antonio Banderas gives us a cheesy performance but that is what the film required. His sense of comic timing was the same as the classic characters. This sequel is better rated than its predecessor and so it probably isn't a waste of money if you are a fan of the TV show. The look of the film is appealing and the gags were quite enjoyable but this show might not be funnier the second time around.

3 Stars